SNK Corp. comes out with newest "Southtown

Series" game title featuring enhanced graphics,

new characters, and pumped up fighting action

Movie directors do it, so do novelists, and video game designers are doing it, too. We're talking sequels. The public doesn't want to let go of a good story, so where possible, "storytellers" try to accommodate the demand by coming out with a "Part two," or three, (or even four, as the case may be...). With the extreme popularity of its mythic Orient-themed "Southtown Series," (including titles like Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, and King of Fighters '94 and '95), SNK Corp.'s most

recent sequel is King of Fighters '96.

Quenching vidgamers' desire for a follow-up to the King of Fighters action, SNK's '96 version continues the saga of Rugal, who's back to fight newcomer Goenitz. Rugal plans to settle the King of Fighter championship in a rematch, but first he's gotta battle eight three-person teams before a face-off with Goenitz. SNK has created seven new fighters for this sequel, plus the re-introduction of old favorites bringing the character total to

a whopping 27! "This series has been popular from the beginning," said the firm, "and gained momentum in 1995. Players were waiting for this title and we're happy to give it to them with even more features than before!"

handicap feature). New fighting features like "air blocking," and updated countermoves ensure fresh action for the longtime King of Fighters players.

"Our graphics have also been updated with this version," reported SNK game analyst Jorge Hicks. "There's enlarged characters, fluid movements, better color, and highly detailed backgrounds." The enhanced graphics overlay all nine stages of action from the Osaka cityscape to a barren desert scene. "King of Fighters '96 is a premiere fighting game," raved Jorge. Shipping for more than a month, the title is available now. For more information, contact your authorized distributor, or for referral, call SNK at 408/3588522.

The two-player game offers over 2,900 different team combinations, since each player chooses their own three-character team (via SNK's "Team Edit" mode). Every gamer, from novice to pro, can finetune their hand-picked team while the "Balance Adjustment Option" automatically "matches" up the player's abilities for a more even match (kind of like a

RePlay Magazine

October 1996

Page 55